Toyota Prius coolant leak.

I checked my 2010 last week and noticed the coolant level was lower than normal, I had to put in about 2 cups to get it full again. It only has 104k miles. First time I ever had to top off coolant. And yes this car does burn oil too, but it's not too bad. Just gotta change the oil every 5000 miles before it runs low

 

If you suspect an intermix, do any of three things.

The cheap one. Look at the color of the oil on the dipstick. Normal or cream?

Pull the spark plugs and look at the color of the electrodes. Too clean?

Do a UOA (used oil analysis) https://www.blackstone-labs.com/ Free test kits.

 

It's not a great mystery, explained in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet:

I'd suspect it's not "most", but yeah, there's been a fair number reported here. Maybe the 10K oil interval is a factor? Third gen is also the first gen with a reusable oil filter housing, hard to tell post-service if the filter was actually changed. Also the first gen to spec 0W20, at least in North America.

 

Does your car have the P0301 error code?

Pixel XL ?

 

Mine does and having the same exact issue as the op!


So my 2014 prius v has 72k miles Started getting a cylinder 1 miss fire error code. Also a knock during start up. Looked in cylinder 1 and it's wet with coolant ! Anyone have this issue?

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket. Along with that, I’d bet the EGR passages in the intake are plugged along with the EGR cooler. Causes localized overheating. And blown head gasket.

 

geeze, i hope not. I dropped it off at Toyota today. It's a 2014 with 70k miles!

 

One would hope not, but coolant in the cylinder only has two points of access. The throttle body/intake manifold or the head gasket.

But at 70k, that would be extremely early for that type of failure.

 

Maybe coolant could be getting in through a faulty EGR cooler? I kinda doubt it though; nobody's reported that.

 

okay thanks for the input guys i'll keep you posted. I dropped it off at Toyota yesterday and they are running a pressure test over night.

 

well it's my worst nightmare! a blown head gasket on a 2014 prius V with 70,000 miles. I just bought this Prius 8 months ago used from Charles Maund VW. The cost is $3584.00 plus tax to repair.

 

I would get a few more quotes, and let them know you're considering other quotes. Maybe post your approximate location in your avatar too, would help responders a lot: there may be other options in your area.

The head gasket is maybe $100. Food for thought? This is no more than a one day job for most any shop. It's not trivial, but it's for sure easier than something like an engine swap, for example. Watch this video, just to get a feel for what's involved, if only to motivate you to not that take that initial quote as gospel.

 

That quote most certainly involves removal and reinstallation of the ICE. But ICE removal is not required. See attached video above.

Even still, a good technician can remove, tear down, and reinstall the ICE in one day(9 hours). I did.

 

Would the dealership pull the engine for a head gasket replacement?

 

I found online pricing from Toyota for a “valve grind gasket set” which would most certainly cover all needed gaskets for $159, the bolts are about $110, if I remember from when I bought mine. So $40 for coolant, $35 for oil and filter. A $19 tube of RTV Ultra Grey(very close to the Three bond that OE used. That puts it about $370 for parts. There is no way it should take 25 hours to remove, tear down, and reassemble that engine. It’s not plausible.

 

Even if you add another $350 in parts to cover replacing all of the timing chain parts, which at 70k I might ONLY change the tensioner, $2900 in labor sounds like “let’s quote the owner an outrageous number and hope he trades the car as is”.

 

There's an easy explanation: $1500 for "shop supplies"...

 

Yes.

You think that dealers price is bad, you’d have a heart attack if you knew what Luscious Garage charges.

I May get the opportunity to assist on the head gasket job here in a week or so, depending on when @The Critic has availability and if the stars align.

Time will tell.

 

Yeah that's sad, I thought they were the good guys. Success went to their toque clad heads.

 

$4500 for the job or $7500 for the short block swap .

That pricing inspires motivation.

But they do have street cred and San Francisco isn’t cheap.